PSAT Writing : Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, and Sentence Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Correcting Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
The ancient Sumerians are credited with the invention of beer and cuneiform, and organized government.
invention of the beer, the cuneiform, and the organized government
inventions of beer, cuneiform, and also organized government
the invention of beer and cuneiform, and organized government
invention of beer, cuneiform, and organized government
inventions of beer, cuneiform, and organized government too
invention of beer, cuneiform, and organized government
The original sentence does not employ correct parallel structure; it is imbalanced. The shortest and most straightforward of the sentences is most desirable. The repetition of the article in “the beer, the cuneiform . . .” sounds awkward.
Example Question #1 : Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Portraits painted during the Renaissance reveal a stricter adherence to the principles of realism than the Middle Ages.
reveals a stricter adherence to the principles of realism than the Middle Ages
reveal a stricter adherence to the principles of realism than those painted during the Middle Ages
reveal a stricter adherence to the principles of realism than did the Middle Ages
has revealed a stricter adherence to the principles of realism than the Middle Ages
reveal a stricter adherence to the principles of realism than the Middle Ages
reveal a stricter adherence to the principles of realism than those painted during the Middle Ages
The original text contains a faulty compaison. It compares portraits painted during the Renaissance to the time period of the Middle Ages. Instead, portraits should be compared to other portraits. The only answer choice that correcly makes this comparison is "reveal a stricter adherence to the principles of realism than those painted during the Middle Ages."
Example Question #1 : Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Every morning, the celebrated composer liked to make a pot of tea, sit down by the window, and began work on his symphony.
window, and beginning to work on his symphony
window; he began work on his symphony
window, and begin work on his symphony
window, to begin work on his symphony
window, and began work on his symphony.
window, and begin work on his symphony
The original sentence does not follow employ parallel structure within the list of things that the composer does every morning. To make it consistent, each verb should be an infinitive ("to make . . . sit . . . begin"). None of the other answers fit into that pattern.
Example Question #1 : Correcting Parallel Structure Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
The lightweight champion boxer may not have the brute strength of heavyweight fighters, but he makes up for it with ferocity and being quick.
fighters, but he makes up for it with ferocity and being quick.
fighters, but they make up for it with ferocity and being quick.
fighters, and he makes up for it with ferocity and being quick.
fighters; but he makes up for it with ferocity and being quick.
fighters, but he makes up for it with ferocity and quickness.
fighters, but he makes up for it with ferocity and quickness.
This sentence contains an error in parallelism. The listed attributes "ferocity" and "being quick" should be phrased the same way. Changing "being quick" to "quickness" fixes this.
Example Question #12 : Correcting Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Behaviors typical of early infancy include exchanging facial expressions with caregivers, focusing on visual objects, and the imitation of adult behavior.
exchanging facial expressions with caregivers, focusing on visual objects, and imitating adult behavior
exchanging facial expressions with caregivers, focusing on visual objects, and the imitation of adult behavior
exchanging facial expressions to caregivers, focusing on visual objects, and the imitation of adult behavior
exchanging facial expressions with caregivers, focusing toward visual objects, and the imitation of adult behavior
exchanging facial expressions to caregivers, focusing with visual objects, and the imitation of adult behavior
exchanging facial expressions with caregivers, focusing on visual objects, and imitating adult behavior
The underlined portion contains a list, the first two items of which end in "-ing." To maintain the parallel structure of the list, the third item should also end in "-ing." Only answer choice "exchanging facial expressions with caregivers, focusing on visual objects, and imitating adult behavior" represents the correct use of parallelism.
Example Question #1 : Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
In the following question, please choose the best sentence improvement.
The vineyards of Napa Valley are at once breathlessly vibrant, symmetrical, and the green is profound.
and it is profoundly green.
and profoundly green.
and its green is quite profound.
and so profound green.
and the green is profound.
and profoundly green.
This sentence requires parallelism across all elements. Only "profoundly green" matches "breathlessly vibrant" and "symmetrical."
Example Question #1 : Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
The kids took too much time cleaning their rooms, left little time to do outdoor chores.
leaving little time to doing outdoor chores.
leaving little time to do outdoor chores.
left few times to do outdoor chores.
left little time to do outdoor chores.
left little time to had done outdoor chores.
leaving little time to do outdoor chores.
The underlined phrase in the sentence, being the second part of a complex sentence, needs to have a parallel structure to the phrase in the first half of the sentence; therefore, "leaving little time to do outdoor chores," is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #1 : Correcting Parallel Structure Errors
In the following question, please choose the best sentence improvement.
When choosing a sport, youths are encouraged to consider its difficulty, its required skills, its necessary equipment, and its overall cost.
its overall cost.
how much it costs overall.
the money needed for it.
if it costs money.
the cost of it.
its overall cost.
In this question, only the original sentence shows parallelism. Any choice other than "its overall cost" would not exhibit parallel structure with the sentence's other elements.
Example Question #1 : Correcting Parallel Structure Errors
The teacher sought new ways of teaching, believing her students would get more from lessons featuring playing, acting, and creativity.
featuring the playing, acting, and creativity.
featuring play, act, and creativity.
featuring playing, acting, and creativity.
featuring playing, acting, and creative things.
featuring playing, acting, and creating.
featuring playing, acting, and creating.
The underlined portion of the sentence features a list of verbs, but they are not all in a parallel form. All such lists must feature a parallel structure for the verbs listed; therefore, the correct answer is "featuring playing, acting, and creating."
Example Question #1 : Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
Stretching before physical workouts is important to improve flexibility and avoiding injury.
is important to improve flexibility and avoid injury.
are important to improve flexibility and avoiding injury.
is important to improve flexibility and being injured less.
is important to improve flexibility and in the avoidance of injury.
is important to both improve flexibility and also avoid injury.
is important to improve flexibility and avoid injury.
Paralellism: in a list of two or more items in a sentence, each should be worded in the same manner for consistency. One choice changes "is" to "are," which is incorrect because the subject is the singular "stretching," not the plural "workouts," which is part of a prepositional phrase.
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